The Truth about "YOUR".....Ministry?
A servant's heart (Parts 1-5)
"Whoever wants to be great must become a servant."
Mark 10:43

God measures greatness in terms of service, not status: by how many people you serve, not by how many serve you. This is so contrary to the world's idea of greatness. Jesus' disciples argued about who deserved the top spot on the team. Not much has changed. Everybody wants to lead but nobody wants to serve. Even Christians want to be 'servant-leaders', not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant, for that's what He called Himself.

Knowing your gift is important: having the heart of a servant is even more important. Why? Because without a servant's heart you'll be tempted to: (a) misuse your gift for personal gain; (b) use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from certain areas.

God tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we're not specially equipped for. For example, if you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say: "I don't have the gift of mercy or service" (See Rom 12:5-8). While you may not be gifted for a particular task, you're called to do it if no one else is around.

Staying focused is important, but never have goals so lofty that they blind you to the needs of those around you. Your gift may reveal your ministry, but your servant's heart reveals your maturity. Simply stated, the only way to serve God, really serve Him, is by serving those He loves!

Real servants make themselves available! They don't fill their time with other pursuits that limit their availability. They're ready to jump into service when called on. Are you? Can God mess up your plans without you becoming resentful? As a servant you don't get to pick and choose where or when you'll serve.

You need to remind yourself at the start of each day that you are first and foremost God's servant; that way interruptions won't frustrate you because your agenda will be whatever God wants. Listen: "Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good. . .especially for the family of believers" (Gal 6:10).

Notice two things:

Learn to be more sensitive and spontaneous, for great opportunities pass quickly, sometimes never to return. Listen: "Never tell your neighbours to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now" (Pr 3:28 ). John Wesley said: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." That's greatness!

Today begin looking for small tasks that nobody else wants to do. Then do these little things as if they were great things – because God is watching!

One reason many of us never volunteer, is because we think we're not good enough. Some churches foster this idea by making 'excellence' an idol. They say: "If it can't be done with excellence, don't do it." Jesus never said that! Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best of intentions. Almost everything we do is done poorly at first – that's how we learn. God's plan has always been to involve as many regular folks as possible, not have things run by a few elites.

Real servants do every task with equal dedication! They "work at it with all [their] heart" (Col 3:23 NIV). For them the only issue is – does it need doing? God never exempts you from the mundane; it's part of your character development. Listen: "If you think you are too important to help. . .you are only fooling yourself" (Gal 6:3 NLT). Jesus washed feet, helped children, fixed breakfast and served lepers. Nothing was beneath Him. He didn't do it in spite of His greatness, He did it because of it! It's your willingness to do the not-so-great stuff that qualifies you for greater stuff. There'll always be more people willing to do great things, than little things. The race to be a star is crowded but the field to be a servant is wide open.

Some times you have to serve upward to those in authority, other times, downwards to those in need. Either way, you develop a servant's heart when you're willing to do whatever's required.

Real servants are faithful! They don't leave a job half done and they don't quit when the going gets tough. Faithfulness is a rare quality. Many folks don't know the meaning of it; they make commitments casually, then break them for the slightest reason without hesitation or remorse. Every week churches and organisations have to improvise because volunteers didn't prepare, show up or even call to say they weren't coming.

Can others depend on you? Can God? Are there promises you need to keep, vows you need to fulfil, commitments you need to honour? This is a test – God is testing your faithfulness. If you pass the test you're in good company: Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, Timothy and Paul were all called "faithful servants of God".

Jesus taught the parable of the talents to emphasise this truth. He said, referring to the servant who failed to use his one talent: "Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the 10 talents" (Mt 25:28 NIV). Fail to use what you've been given and you'll lose it. Use what you've got and God will increase it. In heaven we're going to serve God forever. Right now, we're practising. Like athletes, we're training for our big day. Listen: "They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes...you're after one that's gold eternally" (1Co 9:25 TM). So, practice well, you're getting ready for eternal responsibilities – and rewards.

Real servants keep a low profile because self-promotion and servanthood don't mix. They don't serve for the approval of others, they live for an audience of one. Paul said: "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10 NIV). You won't find many real servants in the limelight. Actually, they usually avoid it when possible, quietly serving in the shadows. Many people start off as servants but end up as celebrities. They become addicted to attention, unaware that always being in the spotlight can blind you. If you're serving in obscurity, feeling unknown and unappreciated, remember, God put you there for a purpose! So stay put until He chooses to move you. Your present ministry matters to Him!

There are 750 Halls of Fame and 450 Who's Who publications, but you won't find many real servants there. They know the difference between prominence and significance. You have several prominent features on your body you could live without. But it's the hidden parts such as your heart, kidneys and lungs that are indispensable. The same is true of Christ's body; the most significant service is often unseen.

In heaven God is going to openly reward people we have never heard of on earth; people who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after incontinent elderly, nursed AIDS patients, or served in a thousand unnoticed ways. Listen: "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort" (1Co 15:58).

http://www.thewordfortoday.com.au/